- Title: Authorities wage information campaign as "Jungle" clearance continues
- Date: 25th October 2016
- Summary: CALAIS, FRANCE (OCTOBER 25, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MIGRANT CAMP MIGRANT PUSHING STROLLER MIST SURROUNDING CAMP'S CHURCH VARIOUS OF MIGRANT WALKING IN ALLEY IN CAMP EMPTY SHELTERS VARIOUS OF DISCARDED CONTAINERS ON GROUND VARIOUS OF SYRIAN NATIONAL COALITION FLAG FLYING ABOVE CAMP "WELCOME CENTRE" OF SHIPPING CONTAINERS IN MIDDLE OF "JUNGLE" VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS IN "WELCOME CENTRE" VARIOUS OF TEAM HANDING OUT INFORMATION TO MIGRANTS ABOUT DEMOLITION (SOUNDBITE) (French) DIRECTOR OF THE LOCAL SOCIAL COHESION DEPARTMENT, SERGE SZARZYNSKI, SAYING: "We explain to them that there are dozens of buses, 45 buses ready to take them. And we tell them that it'll all be finished here eventually. I think they understand, some of them are waiting a bit, thinking a bit but generally I think the fact that they have to leave has become an accepted fact, sometimes fatalistically. But I think it's understood." VARIOUS OF WOMAN HANDING OUT FLYERS (SOUNDBITE) (French) DIRECTOR OF THE LOCAL SOCIAL COHESION DEPARTMENT, SERGE SZARZYNSKI, SAYING: "There's no limit. There's no fixed date, there's no end date. What they asked us was not to rush it, to do it calmly which is what we're doing, and it'll take as long as it takes." SHELTER IN CAMP SHELTER WITH GRAFFITI ON IT READING (French): "I LOVE FRANCE LOVE DARFUR" STREET IN CAMP TOWN SIGN FOR CALAIS MIGRANTS WALKING WITH BAGS MIGRANTS WALKING WITH SHOPPING TROLLEY AND FRENCH FLAG
- Embargoed: 9th November 2016 12:10
- Keywords: Calais France migrants refugees camp Jungle evacuation demolition
- Location: CALAIS, FRANCE
- City: CALAIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00155I71AF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: French authorities continued to inform migrants of the ongoing evacuation and eventual demolition of the Calais migrant camp known as the "Jungle" on Tuesday (October 25) as hundreds more left the sprawling shanty-town.
Hundreds of camp dwellers, many carrying all their possessions in backpacks, waited for buses to take them on to temporary accommodation across France, at the start of a massive operation to demolish the site.
Several teams of social workers accompanied by translators sent by the government toured the camp early Tuesday handing out leaflets to convince migrants they need to prepare to leave the camp.
"We explain to them that there are dozens of buses, 45 buses ready to take them. And we tell them that it'll all be finished here eventually. I think they understand, some of them are waiting a bit, thinking a bit but generally I think the fact that they have to leave has become an accepted fact, sometimes fatalistically. But I think it's understood," said Serge Szarzynski, director of the local social cohesion department.
"There's no limit. There's no fixed date, there's no end date. What they asked us was not to rush it, to do it calmly which is what we're doing, and it'll take as long as it takes," he added.
A Reuters reporter at the scene said that shortly after a group of about 20 workers began dismantling the camp structures using sledgehammers, as two bulldozers waited nearby.
According to local authorities 16 buses have transported 656 migrants to six regions across France on Tuesday alone. In total 3,113 migrants have been take to reception centres since Monday, including 139 minors.
London and Paris have been at odds over the fate of about 1,300 unaccompanied child migrants. The French government last week urged Britain to step up its efforts and resettle child migrants.
On Monday, British Interior Minister Amber Rudd said Britain would take in roughly half of the camp's children who are alone. Her French counterpart Bernard Cazeneuve said that all unaccompanied children with family ties in Britain would be taken there. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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